Badegi FM: Information Minister Says Only NBC Can Order Closure Of Radio Station But Urges Calm…NBA, NGE Fume

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris has reacted to the closure of Badeggi FM by the Niger State government clarifying and asserting that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) can take such an action.

Badeggi FM is a private radio station in Minna, the Niger State capital, and Alhaji Mohammed Idris is an indigene of the state.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the minister in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim on Saturday acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders in the media industry in respect of the closure of the radio station in question.

‘In the light of this, the minister welcomes the decision of the Niger State government to formally report the perceived ‘unethical behaviour’ by Badegi FM to the NBC’ the statement said.

Recall that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had directed that the radio station should be sealed off and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Bologi Ibrahim had noted in a statement that the governor gave the directive during the expanded Niger State APC Caucus meeting held at the Government House, Minna.

‘Governor Bago also accused the owner of the radio station of inciting the people against the government and directed that the license of the Radio station should be revoked.

The governor has also directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal off the radio station, and emphasised the need for the security agencies to profile the owner of the media organization as his radio station has been promoting violence’ the statement said.

. Director of Operations, Badeggi FM, Mr Abubakar Shuaib had however condemned the governor’s approach to the issue while emphasizing the need to do things right.

‘The right thing to do is to write to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for investigation. NBC has schedule of our programmes and we are being monitored every day. So, the governor should write to NBC and let the regulatory agency verify our contents and programme to establish if they contravene any of the NBC codes or ethical provisions.

We cannot do anything to undermine the public peace and security of the state. Our duty is to hold leaders accountable and that is what we are doing. We don’t have anything against any individual or state government’ he said.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris on Saturday urged the parties involved to remain calm, assuring them that the NBC has the necessary mechanisms to resolve the issue in a fair and impartial manner.

In the meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the closure of Badeggi FM noting that the action of the governor which has forced the radio station off airwaves is unconstitutional.

 NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, in a statement on Saturday, emphasized that only the National Broadcasting Commission has the legal authority to regulate or shut down broadcasting operations in the country and anything contrary to this will amount to press gagging.

‘This constitutes executive rascality of the highest order. It is a blatant abuse of power that undermines constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The governor lacks the constitutional or legal authority to revoke broadcast licences or shut down any media establishment. In Nigeria, only the National Broadcasting Commission has the statutory mandate to regulate broadcasting, including the suspension or revocation of licences, subject to due process.

It is imperative to state that the Commissioner of Police or any security agency must not act on unlawful executive directives. Security agencies are bound by law to act within constitutional limits and not as instruments for political intimidation or media suppression.

 The Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Section 39, including the right to own, operate, and access media. No person, regardless of office, has the right to arbitrarily restrict or shut down a media house without due process of law. This unlawful closure, without regulatory sanction or judicial backing, is a dangerous assault on press freedom and democratic governance’ the statement added.

The NBA has also urged the governor to rethink his decision and take immediate remedial measures.

 ‘We call on Governor Bago to immediately withdraw this directive and refrain from further unconstitutional acts. The NBA also urges all levels of government to uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional boundaries, and protect the freedom of the press.

A free and independent media is not a privilege – it is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of any democratic society’ the statement added.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has also condemned the closure of Badeggi Radio describing what Governor Bago has done as a threat to press freedom and democracy.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the editors described the governor’s action as censorship and intimidation that undermines the principles of a democratic society.

‘This act of censorship and intimidation undermines the fundamental principles of a democratic society, where free press is essential for holding those in power accountable’ the NGE said while citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to assert that press freedom and freedom of expression are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution and international law.

‘We are happy that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, has pointed this out. This should go beyond observing the anomaly. The Federal Government should order the unsealing of the premises of the radio station, while investigation is carried out.

Government officials should know that we are in a democracy and therefore, the act of arbitrary order for the sealing off and closure of a radio station is unacceptable. Arbitrary closure of media houses reminds us of the dark days of military rule, which ended 26 years ago’ the statement added.

While urging media practitioners to operate under strict adherence to the code of ethics of journalism and attach importance to responsible conduct, the NGE however noted that Bago’s allegation that the radio station incited violence must be investigated and proven before any action could be taken-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you